Hi, we arrive next week to MK. Yay!! Unfortunately, we've been unsuccessful in securing ANY dining reservations for MK on Weds or Thurs. for lunch or dinner. We usually like to have a sit down meal to relax in the park. Any tips on securing one?”

Megan, from one Coloradoan to another - thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel!

You have just a few more "sleeps" until you are on your way to see Mickey. A nice relaxing table service meal in the park is a fantastic way to get a little break during a busy park day! Since dining reservations open 180 days in advance, last-minute reservations can sometimes be tricky to get, particularly for popular restaurants. However, with a little bit of patience and flexibility, I have been able to secure some really good dining experiences for our family without much preparation time!

First, I recommend you use the dining reservations page to search for openings available in all Magic Kingdom restaurants. Also, rather than picking a specific time, search over entire meals (i.e., Lunch or Dinner). The meal options are located at the very top of the time menu, above the earliest breakfast time. This allows you to pretty quickly see everything available in the park. I don't know the number of Guests in your party or the specific dates, but I just did a few searches and found some openings at Tony's Town Square Restaurant, The Crystal Palace and even one reservation Be Our Guest Restaurant! It will help if you can be flexible with your dining time. Reservations can be much easier to book for meals at off-peak hours, such as late lunch or early dinner.

Keep checking! People often change their minds and their plans. I recommend booking a reservation and then continuing to check restaurant availability to see if a specific restaurant or time opens up that suits your plans. I generally search reservations once a day as a trip gets close if I'm looking for something. In fact, I just booked a reservation for Akershus Royal Banquet Hall today for our trip in a few weeks!

Meet the Panelist: Crystal, Colorado

Hi! I’m Crystal and I’m a wife and mommy to two little Mouseketeers. My husband and I have been enjoying Disney Parks since before we were married, and now we take our children to see Mickey and the gang as often as we can, while managing my oldest son's food allergies. Planning is key for my family to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun trip to our favorite place and it can be just as exciting as the trip itself. I can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure there, too!Learn More About Crystal

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